Bury FC

On This Day...19th September

The first recorded game on 19th September was in the club's very first season – 1885/96, and only the clubs third-ever game. Halliwell Reserves provided the opposition, with the game finishing 2-2 with Pollock scoring both Bury goals.

The first Football League game on this day came in 1903, when Bury played Sheffield Wednesday at Hillsborough. 14,000 supporters watched as both sides played out a 1-1 draw, with Charlie Sagar scoring for Bury.

1927 brought Liverpool to Gigg Lane for a First Division game. Just 10,940 supporters were on hand to witness Bury put five past the Reds with goals from John Ball (2), Norman Bullock (2) and Wally Amos. The game finished 5-2 and the Shakers would go on to finish the season in 5th position, a feat they have only beaten once.

One of Bury's most versatile and accomplished players, Norman Bullock, would go on to become the clubs record holder for the number of appearances – 505. Bullock was a centre forward by training, but at home anywhere on the field.

After eight successful seasons as attack leader, he switched to inside right to accommodate John R Smith, and for his final six seasons he was a commanding figure in the centre of the Shakers defence.

Honours came early, with a scoring debut for the Football League against the Scottish in February 1923. In the following month he won the first of his three full England caps, scoring against Belgium in a 6-1 win.

Marking his most successful season, 1925/26, when he scored 32 League & Cup goals in 43 matches, he won his second cap against Wales, and he marked his final England appearance in the following season by scoring in a 3-3 draw against Northern Ireland.

Bullock was appointed Bury manager in December 1935 and resigned in June 1938 to take over the managership of Chesterfield, guiding them through the War years before returning to Gigg Lane for a second spell in charge.

In his final appointment at Leicester City, he led the Foxes to the Second Division Championship in 1953/54, but they struggled in the higher league and were relegated the following season.

Norman Bullock was sacked by Leicester in February 1955. Earlier in his career, in April 1932, when he was still playing regularly for Bury and working as an analytical chemist, he was offered the position of manager of Manchester United at a salary of £1,200 per year. United were also prepared to pay Bury a transfer fee of £2,000 so that Bullock, if necessary, would be able to play.

The deal was never done, as by this time, it was fully expected that he would be offered a similar post at Bury. This did in due course come about. Signed from Sedgley Park Amateurs in February 1921, Norman Bullock still holds the record for appearances whilst a Shaker. He also held the goal scoring record for Bury, until a certain Craig Madden appeared many years later. Norman died in Bushby, Leicestershire on 27th October 1970.

West Ham United arrived at Gigg Lane in 1936 for a Second Division game. Ernie Matthews scored the Bury goal in a 1-1 draw, watched by 17,700 supporters.

The full Bury side that day was as follows: -

Alex Ferguson (not that one), Andy Bell, Jimmy Gemmell, David Jones, John Cope, George Matthewson, George Raynor (pictured above), George Bargh, Ernie Matthews, Bill Graham and Jack Ormandy

A 1942 North West War League First Division game with Blackpool, at Gigg Lane, is also worthy of noting, due to the horrendous final score. Bury 1 - Blackpool 11 proved that a lack of regular players, due to the War, on the day proved just too much.

1961 brought Sunderland to Gigg Lane for a Division Two game. With 17,262 supporters attending the game, goals from Bill Holden, Don Watson and Frank Beaumont secured a 3-2 win for the Shakers.

Aldershot were the visitors to Bury in 1987 for a Third Division game. Just 1,744 supporters were at the game to see Liam Robinson score the only goal of the game.

The last recorded game on this day was last season, and a game that is best forgotten as Rochdale claimed a 4-0 victory at Gigg Lane in the Checkatrade Trophy.

The full record for 19 September is:-